Pipe deployment trailer

ABSTRACT

A trailer is provided having a trailer base and a trailer bed mounted to the trailer base. The trailer includes at least one actuator coupled to the trailer bed and the trailer base that raises and lowers the trailer bed. When the at least one actuator is extended, the trailer bed is raised to a vertical orientation. When the at least one actuator is retracted, the trailer bed is in the horizontal orientation. The trailer includes a lifting head protruding outwardly from the trailer bed. The position of the lifting head is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the trailer bed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. Non-provisional applicationSer. No. 15/445,519 filed Feb. 28, 2017 and claims the benefit andpriority benefit, of PCT International Patent Application Serial No.PCT/US2016/026673 filed Apr. 8, 2016 titled “Pipe Deployment Trailer”,the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Flexible pipe is useful in a myriad of environments, including in theoil and gas industry. Flexible pipe may be durable and operational inharsh operating conditions and can accommodate high pressures andtemperatures. Flexible pipe may be bundled and arranged into one or morecoils to facilitate transporting and using the pipe.

Coils of pipe may be positioned in an “eye to the side” or “eye to thesky” orientation. When the flexible pipe is coiled and is disposed withits interior channel facing upwards, such that the coil is in ahorizontal orientation, then the coils of pipe are referred to as beingin an “eye to the sky” orientation. If, instead, the flexible pipe iscoiled and disposed such that the interior channel is not facingupwards, such that the coil is in an upright or vertical orientation,then the coils of pipe are referred to as being in an “eye to the side”orientation.

The flexible pipe may be transported as coils to various sites fordeployment (also referred to as uncoiling or unspooling). Differenttypes of devices and vehicles are currently used for loading andtransporting coils of pipe, but usually extra equipment and human manuallabor is also involved in the process of loading or unloading such coilsfor transportation and/or deployment. Such coils of pipe are often quitelarge and heavy. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved methodand apparatus for loading and unloading coils of pipe.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that arefurther described below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to atrailer, which may be used for loading, unloading, and deploying a coilof pipe. The trailer include a trailer base, a trailer bed pivotallymounted to the trailer base, at least one hydraulic actuator coupled tothe trailer bed and the trailer base that raise and lower the trailerbed, the trailer bed being raised to a vertical position when the atleast one hydraulic actuator is extended and the trailer bed being in ahorizontal position when the at least one hydraulic actuator isretracted, and a lifting head protruding outwardly from the trailer bed,wherein a position of the lifting head is adjustable along alongitudinal axis of the trailer bed.

In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure relate tomethods for manipulating a coil of pipe with a trailer that includes atrailer bed pivotally mounted to a trailer base and a lifting headdisposed on the trailer bed, the lifting head having one or more armsprotruding in an outwardly direction from the trailer bed. Methods mayinclude adjusting a vertical position of the lifting head along thetrailer bed to align the one or more arms of the lifting head with aninterior channel extending through the coil of pipe and inserting theone or more arms of the lifting head through the interior channel of thecoil of pipe to position the coil of pipe on the lifting head, whereinthe coil of pipe and the trailer bed are in a vertical orientationduring positioning the coil of pipe on the lifting head. The trailer bedmay then be lowered to a horizontal orientation while the coil of pipeis positioned on the lifting head.

Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will beapparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a coil of pipe and a trailer according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a trailer bed raised to a vertical orientationaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a trailer configured to load a coil of pipeaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a trailer loaded with a coil of pipe operatingaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a coil of pipe loaded on a trailer according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a trailer according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a reel of pipe according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a trailer and a reel of pipe according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a trailer that includes a set of rollersaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a top end view of a trailer that includes a set of rollerswith a slide table according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a top end view of the trailer of FIG. 10 that includes a setof rollers with a slide table extended according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a top end view of the trailer in FIG. 10 with the slide tableextended and containment arms also extended according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a side end view of the trailer of FIG. 10 with the trailerbed in a horizontal orientation according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 14 is a side end view of the trailer of FIG. 10 with the trailerbed in a vertical orientation according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a front end view of the trailer of FIG. 10 with the slidetable extended according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of trailer that includes a turntable according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a rear end view of the trailer in FIG. 16 thatincludes a turntable according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is perspective view of the trailer in FIG. 16 that includes aturntable according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a side end view of the trailer in FIG. 16 with the trailerbed in a vertical orientation according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a trailer that includes a retention componentaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 shows a magnified view of a motor attached to a traileraccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 shows a diagram of a motor mounted to a trailer according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 shows a diagram of a motor mounted to a trailer according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to trailers foruse in transporting and/or deploying coils of pipe. Coils of pipe may beself supported, for example, using bands to hold coils together, orcoils of pipe may be supported around a reel (which may be referred toas a reel of pipe). Trailers according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure may include a lifting head protruding outwardly from andmovable relative to the trailer bed, where the lifting head may be usedto hold or support a coil of pipe. In some embodiments, a lifting headmay radially expand or contract to fit within and support the innerdiameter of a coil of pipe, or in embodiments where a coil of pipe issupported around a reel, a lifting head may radially expand or contractto fit within and support the inner diameter of the reel of pipe. Insome embodiments, a lifting head may include a single lifting arm(sometimes referred to as a “carpet pole”), which may be insertedthrough the inner diameter of a coil of pipe or reel of pipe.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below withreference to the figures. In one aspect, embodiments disclosed hereinrelate to embodiments for a trailer configured to transport coils offlexible pipe to various sites.

As used herein, the term “coupled” or “coupled to” may indicateestablishing either a direct or indirect connection, and is not limitedto either unless expressly referenced as such. The term “set” may referto one or more items. Wherever possible, like or identical referencenumerals are used in the figures to identify common or the sameelements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain featuresand certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale forpurposes of clarification.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a coil of pipe and a trailer according toembodiments of the present disclosure. According to embodiments of thepresent disclosure, trailer 112 is provided which may be used to loadand deploy coil of pipe 102.

Coil of pipe 102 may be formed by wrapping pipe into a coil with aninterior channel 104 formed axially therethrough, where the coil of pipe102 may be moved as a single package or bundle of coiled pipe, as shownin FIG. 1. Each complete turn of coiled pipe may be referred to as awrap of pipe. Multiple wraps of pipe in a coil of pipe may be configuredin columns along an axial dimension of the coil of pipe and/orconfigured in layers along a radial dimension of the coil of pipe. Forexample, multiple columns of wraps may be formed along an axialdirection of the coil of pipe, where the axial dimension of the coil ofpipe is based on the diameter of the pipe and the number and axialposition of wraps forming the coil of pipe 102. Further, multiple layersof wraps may be formed along a radial direction of the coil of pipe,where the radial dimension of the coil of pipe is based on the diameterof the pipe and the number and radial position of the wraps forming thecoil of pipe. In one or more embodiments, coil of pipe 102 may bedisposed on a reel, such as reel 702, which is further discussed belowin FIG. 7. In one or more embodiments, trailer 112, (as shown in any ofthe figures included in the present disclosure) may be configured toload or unload a reel such as reel 702.

As shown in FIG. 1, coil of pipe 102 may be one or more layers (e.g.,layers 108 and 110) of pipe packaged or bundled into a larger coil. Coilof pipe 102 may include at least one or more layers of pipe that havebeen coiled into a particular shape or arrangement. As shown in FIG. 1,coil of pipe 102 is coiled into a substantially cylindrical shape havingsubstantially circular bases 103 and 105 formed on each end of coil ofpipe 102, where the axial dimension of coil of pipe 102 is measuredbetween the two bases 103, 105.

A pipe, as understood by those of ordinary skill, may be a tube toconvey or transfer any water, gas, oil, or any type of fluid know thoseskilled in the art. The pipe used to make up coil of pipe 102 may bemade of any type of materials including without limitation plastics,metals, a combination thereof, composites (e.g., fiber reinforcedcomposites), or other materials known in the art.

In one or more embodiments, the pipe used to make up coil of pipe 102may be a flexible type of pipe. Flexible pipe is used frequently in manyapplications, including without limitation, both onshore and offshoreoil and gas applications. Flexible pipe may include Flexible CompositePipe (FCP) or Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP). A FCP I RTP pipe mayitself be generally composed of several layers. In one or moreembodiments, a flexible pipe may include a high-density polyethylene(“HDPE”) pipe having a reinforcement layer and an HDPE outer coverlayer. Thus, flexible pipe may include different layers that may be madeof a variety of materials and also may be treated for corrosionresistance. For example, in one or more embodiments, pipe used to makeup a coil of pipe may have a corrosion protection shield layer that isdisposed over another layer of steel reinforcement. In this steelreinforced layer, helically wound steel strips may be placed over aliner made of thermoplastic pipe. Flexible pipe may be designed tohandle a variety of pressures. Further, flexible pipe may offer uniquefeatures and benefits versus steel/carbon steel pipe lines in the areaof corrosion resistance, flexibility, installation speed andre-usability.

Coils of pipe may be made with coil having an outer diameter ranging,for example, from about 2 inches (5.1 cm) to about 10 inches (25.4 cm).However, pipe having other dimensions may be coiled to form a coil ofpipe and loaded to trailers according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, pipe that that may be spooled or coiled intocoil of pipe 102 may be made to suite a number of dimensions and mayhave any diameter useful to a particular project.

As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, pipe used to make upcoil of pipe 102 may be coiled using spoolers or other coiler machinessuited for such a function. Those of ordinary skill will recognize thatthe present disclosure is not limited to any particular form of coileror other device that may be used to form pipe into a coil. Coiling pipeinto a coil of pipe, such as 102, assists when transporting pipe, whichmay be several hundred feet in length in one or more embodiments.Further, coil of pipe 102 may be assembled as a coil to facilitatedeployment of the coil. Deployment, as described above and used herein,may refer to the action of unspooling or unwinding the pipe from coil ofpipe 102.

After being assembled into a coil, coil of pipe 102 may include aninterior channel 104 formed axially through the coil of pipe 102.Interior channel 104 is a bore disposed generally in the center of coilof pipe 102. Interior channel 104 is substantially circular shaped. Thecoil of pipe 102 may have an outer diameter (OD) and an inner diameter(ID), where the inner diameter is defined by the interior channel.

In one or more embodiments, coil of pipe 102 may have an outer diameterranging from about 92 inches (2.3 m), which may occur, for example, whencoil of pipe 102 has at least two layers of 2 inch pipe, to about 192inches (4.9 m). In one or more embodiments, a coil of pipe may have aninner diameter ranging, for example, from about 84 inches (2.1 m) toabout 126 inches (3.2 m). Further, in one or more embodiments, a coil ofpipe may have an axial dimension (width) ranging from about 5 inches(12.7 cm) to about 92 inches (2.3 m). However, these are merelyexemplary measurements. Those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that any range of dimensions (inner and outer diameters andwidth) may be accommodated using one or more embodiments of trailer 112.

Skid 106 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a platform upon which coil of pipe102 may be disposed to hold the coil of pipe 102 in a verticalorientation. In one or more embodiments, coil of pipe 102 may be loadedand unloaded by trailer 102 while remaining on skid 106. In otherembodiments, coil of pipe 102 may be disposed upon a reel, as furtherdescribed below in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In one or more embodiments, trailer 112 may be connected or attached toanother vehicle (not shown). The other vehicle may be configured to movetrailer 112. As shown in FIG. 1, trailer 112 may include a set of wheels114. FIG. 1 shows two wheels (114) disposed on either side of trailer112. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any numberof wheels may be disposed along trailer 112. Further, any number ofwheels may be disposed at the front or the rear of the trailer. Thus,according to one or more embodiments, trailer 112 is a mobile, transportunit that may be used to load and unload coil of pipe 102, as well as totransport coil of pipe 102 from one site to another. Trailer 112 may bemoved/towed in a direction towards or away from coil of pipe I 02 whencoil of pipe 102 is not already loaded onto trailer bed 112.

In one or more embodiments, a trailer connection point provided ontrailer 112 may be a hitch, such as a draw bar hitch. A draw bar hitchmay be a type of tow hitch that includes a ball extending from a bar andconfigured to secure a hook or a socket combination for the purpose oftowing or being towed. Those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that other types of tow hitches and attachment systems may beused to attach another vehicle to trailer 112.

Accordingly, a vehicle (not shown) may be fitted with a connector orattachment system known to those of ordinary skill in the art forconnecting to trailer 112. In one or more embodiments, a vehicle used totow trailer 112 may include without limitation, a dozer, a front endloader, or excavator, for example, when trailer 112 is fully loaded withone or more coils of pipe 102, or by standard trucks, automobiles, orother vehicles, for example, when trailer 112 is in an unloaded state(i.e. is not carrying any coils of pipe, such as coil of pipe 102).Trailer 112 may be further designed for off-road use, such that wheels114 are also designed for off-road use. Thus, trailer 112 may be adaptedfor use with many types of roads and terrains.

In addition, trailer 112 may include built-in skid protection that alsoserves use as a sled on soft terrain. For example, in some embodiments,a trailer may include a metal plate on its undercarriage, under the baseof the trailer, where the metal plate may be lifted from the ground toprovide protection at the underside of the trailer and may optionally belowered to the ground to act as a sled runner.

Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, trailer 112 may have acontinuous track (also called tank tread or caterpillar track) to allowfor propulsion of trailer 112 using a continuous band of treads or trackplates. Thus, in one or more embodiments, a continuous band of treads ortrack plates may be disposed along either side of trailer base 116around wheels 114 (any number of wheels 114 as needed). Further, in oneor more embodiments, this band of treads or track plates may be madefrom modular steel plates. The large surface area of the tracks may helpto distribute the weight of the vehicle better than steel or rubbertires and also provides added traction, which may also enable a trailerthat is track driven, e.g. trailer 112, to traverse soft ground withless likelihood of becoming stuck due to sinking.

In some embodiments, trailer 112 may include a control unit for movingtrailer 112 in any direction. In one or more embodiments, trailer 112may be a self-driven unit.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, trailer112 may range in size from 12 feet (3.7 m) to 16 feet (4.9 m). However,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that trailer 112 maybe of varying sizes and dimensions other than those listed above.

In one or more embodiments, coil of pipe 102 may be oriented in eitheran “eye to the side” (vertical) or “eye to the sky” (horizontal)orientation. As shown in FIG. 1, coil of pipe 102 is oriented in an “eyeto the side” position such that it is at a vertical orientation (i.e.upright). In other words, when in an “eye to the side” orientation,interior channel 104 is not facing upwards. In an “eye to the sky”orientation (e.g., shown in FIG. 5), an opening to the interior channel104 of the coil of pipe 102 may be facing upwards such that the coil ofpipe 102 is longer in an upright position. In other words, coil of pipe102 rests on one of its circular bases 103, 105 and is in a horizontalorientation.

[In accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein, coil ofpipe may be “self-loaded” from an “eye to the side” position (e.g., asshown in FIG. 1) to an “eye to the sky” position (e.g., as shown in FIG.5) using a trailer according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Atrailer according to embodiments of the present disclosure capable ofself-loading a coil of pipe from an eye to the side position to an eyeto the sky position may include a trailer bed pivotally mounted to atrailer base, at least one hydraulic actuator coupled to the trailer bedand the trailer base and configured to raise and lower the trailer bed,and a lifting head protruding outwardly from the trailer bed, where thelifting head position is adjustable with respect to the trailer bed.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, a trailer 112 may include trailerbed 120 pivotally mounted to a trailer base 116, such that trailer bed120 is configured to tilt with respect to trailer base 116. Trailer bed120 may be actuated to transition from being in a fully horizontalorientation (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1) to a fully vertical orientation(e.g., as shown in FIG. 2), where the fully vertical orientation is 90degrees from the fully horizontal orientation. Also, trailer bed 120 maybe configured to tilt to a partially vertical position (e.g., as shownin FIG. 4). In one or more embodiments, trailer bed 120 may beconfigured to tilt to and stay at an angle relative to the trailer base116 ranging from, for example, 0 degrees (fully horizontal orientationand parallel with trailer base 116) to 90 degrees (fully verticalorientation), and in some embodiments, beyond 90 degrees relative to thetrailer base 116, e.g., up to 180 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 2, trailer bed 120 may be raised or tilted to a fullyvertical orientation (90 degrees from a fully horizontal orientation)and configured to operate in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure. The trailer bed 120 may be tilted with respectto the trailer base 116 using one or more actuators coupled to andextending between the trailer bed 120 and the trailer base 116.

For example, in one or more embodiments, trailer 112 may include one ormore hydraulic cylinders 122. A set of hydraulic cylinders 122 may be amechanism for moving the trailer bed 120 from a horizontal to verticalupright orientation and vice versa. Hydraulic cylinder 122 may also bereferred to as a linear hydraulic motor, and is a type of mechanicalactuator. In one or more embodiments, a set of hydraulic cylinders 122may be hydraulically powered by a hydraulic power unit (HPU) (notshown). As understood in the art, an HPU may be used to power one ormore hydraulic cylinders 122 may be powered by fuel (e.g. gasoline ordiesel) and may include a number of hydraulic controls that are easilyaccessible. In one or more embodiments, an HPU may be located upontrailer bed 120 or on the trailer base 116 in a position for easymaintenance and replacement. Those of ordinary skill will appreciatethat other systems and mechanisms for raising and lowering trailer bed120 with respect to the trailer base 116 may be used includingmechanical, pneumatic, electronic, and/or magnetic actuating systems.

As shown in FIG. 6, in one or more embodiments, cantilever arms 604 maybe coupled to hydraulic cylinders 122. Cantilever arms 604 may becoupled to trailer base 116 and used to raise and lower trailer bed 120when hydraulic cylinders 122 are energized. Those of ordinary skill willappreciate that other lifting members, other than cantilever arms 604may be utilized.

Further, in one or more embodiments, lifting head 118 may be disposed ontrailer bed 120 and protrude outwardly from the trailer bed 120. Alifting head may protrude perpendicularly or non-perpendicularly and ina general outwardly direction away from a surface of a trailer bed,e.g., where a central axis of the lifting head extends outwardly fromthe trailer bed at an angle ranging from, for example, ±5 degrees, ±10degrees or ±15 degrees from perpendicular to the trailer bed. Forexample, in some embodiments, the lifting head 118 may protrudeperpendicularly from the trailer bed 120, where upon raising trailer bed120 to a fully vertical orientation (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2), liftinghead 118 protrudes horizontally from the trailer bed 120, such thatlifting head 118 is parallel to the trailer base 116. In embodimentshaving the lifting head 118 protruding perpendicularly from the trailerbed 120, when the trailer bed 120 is in a fully horizontal orientation(e.g., as shown in FIG. 1), lifting head 118 protrudes vertically fromthe trailer bed 120, such that lifting head 118 is also perpendicular tothe trailer base 116.

A lifting head as described herein may be a structure used to lift andsupport a coil of pipe 102 or a reel 702 (as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8).Thus, a lifting head, such as lifting head 118 may include one or morearms members protruding from the trailer bed 120 to engage with a coiledpipe structure, such as the arm assembly shown in FIG. 2 or the shaft802 shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, lifting head 118 may include one or more armmembers, such as arm members 124, 126, and 128. Arm members may becircumferentially spaced about a central axis of the lifting head, maybe linearly spaced about the lifting head, and/or may extend along thecentral axis of the lifting head (e.g., in embodiments having a liftinghead with a single arm member or shaft protruding from the trailer bed,the single arm member may extend in-line with the central axis of thelifting head). For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, armmembers 124 and 126 are aligned and disposed along a common linearposition on the lifting head 118, and arm member 128 is disposed atsecond linear position linearly spaced from arm members 124 and 126. Asshown in FIG. 2, arm 128 is disposed beneath arm members 124 and 126,but also at a midway point between arm members 124 and 126, such thatthe arm members 124, 126, and 128 are arranged to form a substantiallytriangular shaped arm assembly. The arm members 124, 126 and 128 may bein a fixed position or may be adjustable. For example, the linearspacing between arm members 124, 126 at the common linear position andarm member 128 at the second linear position may be adjusted to move thearm members 124, 126 apart from or closer to the arm member 128.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that additional armmembers and components may be added to lifting head 118 in accordancewith the present disclosure, or a reduced number arm members may also beutilized in accordance with the present disclosure. For example, asshown in FIG. 6, in one or more embodiments, lifting head 118 mayinclude four arm members, 124, 125, 126, 128, to form a substantiallyrectangular shaped arm assembly. In some embodiments, more than four armmembers may be circumferentially spaced around a central axis of alifting head. Further, in some embodiments, two arm members may be in aspaced apart configuration on a lifting head. In embodiments having twoor more arm members protruding from a lifting head, the spatial distancebetween the arm members may be adjusted to reduce spacing there betweenand/or to increase spacing there between, for example, to fit within aninterior channel of a coil of pipe and/or to engage an inner diameter ofthe interior channel of a coil of pipe.

In one or more embodiments, the arms of lifting head 118 may beadjustable to support a range of inner diameters of coil of pipe 102.Different coils of pipe may have differing interior channels definingdifferent inner diameters. Accordingly, the arms of lifting head 118 maybe capable of being expanded and retracted linearly to fit an innerdiameter of coil of pipe 102. For example, arm member 124 and 126 may betransversely spaced apart and may be configured to extend outwards andinwards over a certain range of distance. Further, either arm member 124or 126 or both may be individually adjusted so as to be positionedcloser to or farther away from one another. The linear position of armmembers 124 and 126 may be accomplished through any mechanical meansknown to those of ordinary skill in the art.

In one or more embodiments, lifting head 118 may be movably coupled totrailer bed 120, such that the position of the lifting head 118 may beadjusted relative to the trailer bed 120. For example, as shown in FIG.2, a lifting head 118 may be coupled to a track 132 extending along alongitudinal axis of the trailer bed 120, where the lifting head 118engages with and is movable along the track 132 to adjust the positionof the lifting head 118 on the trailer bed 120.

Lifting head 118 may be movably coupled to track 132 via a lifting headbase. For example, a lifting head base may be inserted into track 132and slidable or otherwise movable along the track to adjust a positionof lifting head 118 with respect to the trailer bed 120. In one or moreembodiments, a lifting head base may be positioned on track 132 to besubstantially in between a pair of track beams 131 and 133. The pair oftrack beams 131 and 133 may be configured to define the open channel oftrack 132. In one or more embodiments, pair of track beams 131 and 133may be provided along a width of trailer bed 120 and extend along alength of the trailer bed 120. As shown in FIG. 2 and further shown ingreater detail in FIG. 6, in one or more embodiments, the track 132 mayextend along a longitudinal axis of the trailer bed 120, such that thelifting had 118 may be capable of being repositioned along thelongitudinal axis of trailer 112.

In one or more embodiments, a lifting head base may be mechanically orautomatically positioned and repositioned as needed along track 132. Inone or more embodiments, a lifting head base may be coupled to one ormore mechanisms for sliding along track 132. Those of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that other mechanisms may be utilized as well.

As shown in FIG. 2, a trailer bed 120 may include a number of supportbars 134 and/or beams extending between one or more edges of the trailerbed 120 defining an outer perimeter of the trailer bed 120. In one ormore embodiments, support bars 134 may extend between track 132 formedalong a length of the trailer bed 120 to one or more edges of thetrailer bed 120.

Trailer bed 120 has a number of slots and openings defined by the one ormore support bars 134 used to make up trailer bed 120. This exemplaryarrangement of bars and beams with the slots in between may provideadditional useful advantages. For example, such a configuration oftrailer 112 as shown in FIG. 2 may provide sufficient space for anoperator of trailer 112 to tie down any loose layers of pipe (e.g.layers 108 and 110) using any type of tie downs or bands know in theart. Alternatively, in other embodiments, trailer bed 120 may be asubstantially solid piece without slots or openings except for track 132so that lifting head 118 may be movable along track 132.

It is noted that while not shown in the Figures, it is in keeping withthe present disclosure for any number of tie downs and straps to beused. Tie downs and straps may be tied around different sections of coilof pipe 102 to further secure the layers of coil of pipe 102 to preventthe layers from unspooling or falling over one over. Such tie downs andstraps may be used while coil of pipe 102 is in an “eye to the side” or“eye to the sky” orientation. In one or more embodiments, a ratchetstrap (not shown) may be used to tie down any loose layers of pipe orany uncoiled remaining pipe that may be present at the ends of coil ofpipe 102.

A method for loading and/or unloading a coil of pipe may include using atrailer according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example,methods of the present disclosure may include providing a trailer havinga trailer bed pivotally mounted to a trailer base and a lifting headdisposed on the trailer bed, the lifting head having one or more armsprotruding in an outwardly direction from the trailer bed. A coil ofpipe may be positioned on the lifting head when the coil of pipe andtrailer bed are in a vertical orientation by adjusting a verticalposition of the lifting head along the trailer bed to align the one ormore arms of the lifting head with an interior channel extending throughthe coil of pipe and inserting the one or more arms of the lifting headthrough the interior channel of the coil of pipe. The trailer bed maythen be lowered to a horizontal orientation while the coil of pipe 1 spositioned on the lifting head to move the trailer loaded with the coilof pipe.

FIGS. 1-5 show stages of loading a coil of pipe 102 onto a trailer 112according to methods of the present disclosure. However, one of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that additional steps may be added toand/or some steps may be omitted from the steps shown in FIGS. 1-5.

As shown in FIG. 1, trailer 112 is in an unloaded state whereby trailerbed 120 is in a fully horizontal orientation, such that trailer bed 120is parallel to trailer base 116 and lifting head 118 does not have acoil of pipe 102 positioned thereupon.

As shown in FIG. 2, trailer bed 120 may be raised from the trailer base116 using one or more actuators coupled to the trailer bed 120 and thetrailer base 116. The trailer bed 120 may be raised to a verticalorientation where the lifting head 118 protrudes from the trailer bed120 in a direction substantially parallel with the trailer base 116. Thelifting head 118 may be aligned with an interior channel 104 of the coilof pipe 102 by adjusting the position of the lifting head 118 along thetrailer bed 120 to a shared vertical position (or height from theground) with the interior channel 104.

As shown in FIG. 3, when protruding arm member(s) of the lifting head118 is aligned with the interior channel 104 of a vertically orientedcoil of pipe 102, the trailer 112 may be moved toward the coil of pipe102 to insert the lifting head 118 into the interior channel 104 of thecoil of pipe 102. As previously described, in one or more embodiments,trailer 112 may be operated by a vehicle connected to trailer 112. Sucha vehicle may be used to back up trailer 112 to position trailer 112close enough to coil of pipe 102 such that an assembly 118 extendsthrough interior channel 104. Those of ordinary skill will appreciatethat trailer 112 may also be pulled, pushed, or otherwise acted upon inorder to position trailer 112 at a desired position so as to be able toload coil of pipe 102 onto trailer 112. In other embodiments, coil ofpipe 102 may be brought toward trailer bed 120 and positioned ontolifting head 118. When inserted into the interior channel 104, thelifting head 118 may fully support the coil of pipe 102. The coil ofpipe 102 may be freestanding in a vertical orientation or may be held byone or more mechanical mechanisms.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, trailer bed 120 has beenraised to a fully vertical orientation, such that one or more hydraulicactuators configured to raise the trailer bed 120 is extended. As shownin FIG. 3, coil of pipe 102 may be loaded onto the lifting head 118 oftrailer 112 while still disposed on skid 106. In one or moreembodiments, coil of pipe 102 may be loaded onto arm assembly 118 oftrailer 112 without being disposed on skid 106.

It is noted that lifting head 118 is positioned to be able to fit withinthe dimensions of interior channel 104 of coil of pipe 102. If anoperator of trailer 112 needs to adjust the vertical position of liftinghead 118, in one or more embodiments, lifting head 118 may be adjustedthrough automatic or mechanical means. Further, in embodiments having alifting head with more than one arm member, the arm members of liftinghead 118 may be adjusted in a manner to best fit the interior channel104, for example, by spacing the arm members farther apart or closertogether.

Upon loading the coil of pipe 102 onto the lifting head 118, such thatthe lifting head 118 supports and holds the coil of pipe 102, thelifting head 118 together with the loaded coil of pipe 102 may be movedwith respect to the trailer bed 120 by adjusting the vertical positionof the lifting head 118 along the trailer bed 120 (e.g., along a trackextending longitudinally along the trailer bed, such as shown in FIG.2).

FIG. 4 shows coil of pipe 102 loaded onto trailer bed 120 (via thelifting head 118) while trailer bed 120 is partially raised from thetrailer base 116. By virtue of lifting head 118, coil of pipe 102 isretained to the trailer bed 120, i.e. supported and held by lifting head118, while trailer bed 120 is being lowered back towards a horizontalorientation. Also, as previously described, tie downs and/or othersecuring means may be used in conjunction with lifting head 118 andtrailer bed 120 to retain the coil of pipe 102 to the trailer bed 120.

FIG. 5 shows coil of pipe 102 in an “eye to the sky” orientation andtrailer bed 120 in a fully horizontal position while loaded with coil ofpipe 102. Trailer 112 is now loaded with the coil of pipe 102 and may bemoved from one location to another with coil of pipe 102 in such anorientation. Also, those of ordinary skill will appreciate, that trailer112 may be moved (e.g., driven away or towed away) while trailer bed 120is in vertical orientation (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).

Unloading of coil of pipe 102 may be accomplished by reversing theloading process. To unload coil of pipe 102, trailer bed 120 may beraised (e.g. hydraulically lifted using hydraulic cylinders 122 or usingone or more other types of actuators) and the orientation of coil ofpipe 102 changed in this manner from an “eye to the sky” to an “eye tothe side” orientation. Accordingly, lifting head assembly 118 may bemoved or repositioned along the trailer bed 120 as necessary to positionthe coil of pipe 102 as desired. In one or more embodiments, coil ofpipe 102 may be unloaded directly onto the ground by lowering liftinghead 118 to a position suitable for unloading coil of pipe 102 to theground level. Further, coil of pipe 102 may be unloaded onto any type ofadditional trailer (e.g. lowboy trailer) or vehicle from trailer 112.This may be accomplished by using the tilting actions of trailer bed 120as well as the repositionable lifting head 118 to unload coil of pipe102 onto a surface of another trailer or vehicle. The trailer 112 maythen be moved away from the now upright, “eye to the side” coil of pipe102 after unloading from trailer bed 120.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a trailer having atleast one actuator configured to raise and lower a trailer bed having alifting head disposed thereon, such as shown in the embodiments of FIGS.1-6, or a trailer may have at least one actuator configured to raise andlower a lifting head apart from the trailer bed. For example, accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, a trailer may include atrailer base, a trailer bed (either pivotally or non-pivotally mountedto the trailer base), and a lifting head protruding in an outwardlydirection from the trailer bed and the trailer base when the liftinghead is in a first orientation (e.g., in a horizontal orientation),where the position of the lifting head is adjustable along alongitudinal axis of the trailer bed. At least one actuator may becoupled to the trailer base and either the trailer bed or the liftinghead. When the actuator(s) is in an actuated state, the lifting head maybe raised to a second orientation (e.g., a vertical orientation) by theactuator(s), and when the actuator(s) is in a non-actuated state, thelifting head may be in the first orientation (e.g., horizontalorientation).

For example, when an actuator is coupled to a trailer base and a liftinghead, the lifting head may be raised or lowered independently of thetrailer bed. When an actuator coupled between the trailer base and thelifting head is in an actuated state (e.g., expanded or retracted), thelifting head may be moved from a first orientation to a secondorientation apart from the trailer bed and the trailer base. When anactuator is coupled to a trailer base and a trailer bed (on which alifting head is disposed), the lifting head may be raised or loweredtogether with the trailer bed. When an actuator coupled between thetrailer base and the trailer bed is in an actuated state (e.g., expandedor retracted), the trailer bed and attached lifting head may be movedfrom a first orientation to a second orientation apart from the trailerbase.

Turning to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a reel 702 ofpipe. In many instances, a coil of pipe 102 may be wound around thecomponents of a reel, such as reel 702, instead of transported as abundled, freestanding package (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2). The coil ofpipe may be wound around a reel such that the interior channel of thecoil of pipe is concentric with a central bore of the reel. A reel asunderstood by those of ordinary skill may include a cylindrical drum,such as cylindrical drum 710, around which layers of pipe may be wrappedto form a coil of pipe, such as coil of pipe 102. Reel 702 may includetwo substantially circular reel ends 706 and 708 that are capable ofturning about a shared axis. Accordingly, reel ends 706 and 708 may beattached to cylindrical drum 710.

As shown in FIG. 7, a bore 704 is disposed in each end 706 and 708 at asubstantially central position. In addition, the bores 704 for each end706 and 708 are substantially aligned with each other (and may also bealigned with a central axis of cylindrical drum 710). Pipe 712 (e.g.flexible pipe) may be wound around cylindrical drum 710 using any meansknow to those of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a trailer 812 that may be used inconjunction with loading, unloading, and deploying a reel of pipe, suchas reel 702. In one or more embodiments, shaft 802 may be disposed onand/or coupled to trailer bed 820 via a lifting head base, as shown inFIG. 8. In one or more embodiments, shaft 802 may be configured to actas a spike or pole that protrudes outwardly from trailer bed 820.Further, shaft 802 may be disposed perpendicular to or substantiallyperpendicular to trailer bed 820.

Shaft 802 may be used to support reel 702 upon being inserted into acentral bore of reel 702. In addition, shaft 802 may be attached to anadjustable lifting head base that is configured to move either up ordown track 832 of trailer bed 820. This may be beneficial in locatingshaft 802 at a position along track 832 and trailer bed 820 that is mostsuitable for properly loading and unloading reel 702. Accordingly,according to one or more embodiments provided herein, coil of pipe 102may be disposed on reel 702, and may be loaded and unloaded onto trailer812. In addition, pipe 712 wound around reel 702 may be deployeddirectly from reel 702 while loaded onto shaft 802 and still loaded ontrailer 812.

A method in accordance with one or more embodiments for loading reel 702onto shaft 802 is described below. Reel 702 and shaft 802 may bepositioned so as to be within a suitable distance from one another. Inone or more embodiments, trailer 812 may be positioned proximate to reel702 by moving trailer 812 towards reel 702. Alternatively, reel 702 maybe moved to be proximate to trailer 812.

Trailer bed 820 may be raised to a fully vertical orientation (as shownin FIG. 8) such that shaft 802 protrudes outwardly from one side of thetrailer bed 820 and shaft 802 is substantially parallel with alongitudinal axis of trailer base 816. As shown in FIG. 8, reel 702 maybe positioned so that reel end 706 is the proximal end that facestrailer bed 820 and also faces shaft 802. In one or more embodiments,shaft 802 may be inserted into bore 704 of end 706 so as to pass throughthe central bore of cylindrical drum 710 (shown in FIG. 7), and extendcompletely through the bore 704 of the distal end 708. In theabove-described method, shaft 802 is inserted into a central bore ofreel 702. The shaft 802 may be inserted partially through the centralbore of reel 702 or completely through the central bore of reel 702 fromone end 706 to opposite end 708 of reel 702. In other embodiments, reel702 may be pushed onto shaft 802 by positioning proximal end 706 ontoshaft 802 (i.e. through bore 704 of end 706) and urging the remainder ofreel 702 onto shaft 802.

Shaft 802 may be repositionable if needed in an up and down directionalong track 832 so as to aligned with and fit within bore 704 of reel702. After the reel 702 of pipe has been mounted to the shaft 802,trailer bed 820 may be lowered to a horizontal orientation using one ormore actuators, e.g. hydraulic cylinders, to lower the trailer bed 820towards trailer base 816. Accordingly, trailer 812 may be transported toother locations while fully loaded with reel 702 of pipe. In someembodiments, a trailer may include a lifting head having multiple armmembers (instead of shaft 802) that has been configured to be insertablewithin a central bore of a reel of pipe so as to support and hold thereel of pipe, such as reel 702.

In one or more embodiments, deployment of pipe 712 from reel 702 may beachieved while reel 702 is still loaded on trailer bed 820 and supportedby shaft 802. To deploy pipe 712 from reel 702 while reel 702 is stillloaded, the trailer bed 820 may be configured to be in a vertical or ahorizontal orientation as needed.

It is noted that there are other instances whereby coils of pipe may betransported and/or deployed without using a reel. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 8,985,496, which is incorporated for reference in its entirety, andis also assigned to the present assignee, discloses an expandable drumassembly that may be used for storing, transporting, or deploying coilsof flexible pipe. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments, it may befeasible to utilize an expandable drum assembly as described in one ormore embodiments of U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,496 instead of a reel, such asreel 702. A trailer according to embodiments of the present disclosurehaving a trailer bed pivotally mounted to a trailer base and a liftinghead adjustably positioned on the trailer bed may be used to load,unload and/or deploy pipe from an expandable drum assembly, where aprotruding portion of the lifting head may be inserted into a centralbore of the expandable drum assembly to support and hold the expandabledrum assembly to the trailer bed.

Turning to FIGS. 9-15, several views are provided of a trailer having aset of rollers that may be used in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 provides a perspectiveview of trailer 912; FIG. 10-12 show top views of trailer 912; FIGS. 13and 14 show side views of trailer 912; and FIG. 15 shows a front view oftrailer 912 in raised or lifted position. In one or more embodiments,trailer 912 may be used in accordance with the description providedabove for trailer 112 and may include any of the features/functions oftrailer 112.

Trailer 912 includes a set of rollers 902. Set of rollers 902 may beroller units arranged on a surface of trailer bed 920 that are capableof rotational movement and are configured to act as supports for a coilof pipe when mounted to the trailer bed 920. The coil of pipe may bearagainst rollers 902 and urged to turn while disposed upon rollers 902.Set of rollers 902 may be configured in multiple orientations, shapes,and sizes, and are not limited to the generally cylindrical shapedepicted in FIGS. 9-15. In one or more embodiments, other types ofmechanisms as known to those of ordinary skill may be used in place ofrollers 902 which are capable of turning or rotational movement. Forexample, multiple wheels may be used and may be coupled to trailer bed920. Further, in one or more embodiments, set of rollers 902 are fixedin place. For example, set of rollers 902 may be rotationally affixed totrailer bed 920 (such that the rollers may rotate but remain in a fixedlocation along the trailer bed 920) using bolts, screws, or any suitablemeans known to those of ordinary skill in the art to affix rollers 902in place.

According to one or more embodiments, a set of rollers 902 may extendalong the trailer bed 920 in a radial direction from a central referencepoint 934 (as shown in FIGS. 10-12) to one or more edges 936 defining anouter perimeter of trailer bed 920. Central reference point 934 may belocated a distance along a length of the trailer bed, where the lengthof the trailer bed extends along a longitudinal axis of the trailer bedfrom a base edge 923 at an end of the trailer bed pivotally mounted tothe trailer base to an upper edge 925 at an opposite end of the trailer,wherein the distance is greater than a radius of a coil of pipe.

In some embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 10-12 and 15, centralreference point 934 may be located along a track 932 formed in thetrailer bed 920, such that rollers 902 are positioned to radially extendaway from track 932 and to one or more edges (e.g. 936) of the trailerbed. In one or more embodiments, rollers 902 are retained within theouter perimeter of trailer bed 920. While the embodiment shown in FIGS.9-15 includes a number of rollers forming set of rollers 902, those ofordinary skill will appreciate that a greater or lesser number ofrollers may be disposed and arranged as desired. For example, six,eight, or more rollers may be arranged circumferentially around acentral reference point, extending in a direction radially outward fromthe central reference point.

A central reference point may be a distance along the length of thetrailer bed 920 that may best accommodate larger sized coils of pipe sothat the full outer diameter of the coil of pipe may fit within thelength of the trailer bed 920. In some embodiments, the outer diameterof a coil of pipe to be loaded on a trailer bed may be smaller than andfit within the outer perimeter of the trailer bed. According toembodiments of the present disclosure, a central reference point may bea distance from a base edge of the trailer bed greater than the radiusof a coil of pipe to be loaded on the trailer bed. In some embodiments,a central reference point may be at a distance along a middle portion ofthe trailer bed, the middle portion extending within 5 percent, 10percent or 20 percent the length of the trailer bed from the half pointof the length of the trailer bed. In one or more embodiments, trailer912, (as shown in any of the figures included in the present disclosure)may be configured to load or unload a reel such as reel 702.

A benefit of having an adjustable lifting head 918 (whether the liftinghead includes an arm assembly or a shaft, such as shaft 802) is that thelifting head 918 may be raised or lowered to the central reference pointof trailer bed 920 so as to position a coil of pipe (e.g., reel 702 ofpipe or coil of pipe 102) on top of the set of rollers 902. For example,there may be circumstances whereby a coil of pipe (e.g., reel 702 ofpipe) is initially located at a position along the trailer bed 920 thatis not at the same as the central reference point between a fixed set ofrollers 902. Upon mounting the coil of pipe to the adjustable liftinghead 918, the adjustable lifting head 918 may be raised or lowered so asto be positioned substantially over central reference point 934. FIG. 15shows a front end view of trailer 912 with lifting head 918 positionedgenerally on central reference point 934 such that a coil of pipe (orreel) may rest against set of rollers 902 so as to benefit from therotational movement imparted on the coil of pipe by the set of rollers902 during deployment. Accordingly, lifting head 918 may be raised orlowered along track 932 in accordance with the embodiments discussedabove with respect to track 132.

Rollers 902 may be useful for providing bearing support that facilitatesthe overall rotational movement of a coil of pipe, for example, as thecoil of pipe is being deployed. As shown in FIG. 9, according to one ormore embodiments, rollers 902 are generally circumferentially arrangedaround trailer bed 920. Such a circumferential arrangement may ensurethat a rotational support member (roller) is disposed at each area oftrailer bed 920 that a coil of pipe may make contact with. For example,one of ordinary skill will understand that to uncoil a coil of pipe, anunsecured end of pipe is pulled in a direction away from a trailer 912on which the coil of pipe is mounted. As the coil of pipe is unwound,the layers of coil of pipe may contact each roller of rollers 902, whichenables the coil of pipe to make complete 360 degree rotational turns asan unsecured end of pipe is pulled away from trailer 912. When the coilof pipe has completed all of the turns required to fully unwind the coilof pipe, then the coil of pipe has been fully deployed (i.e. unwound).

In accordance with embodiments described above, as pipe is pulled, thecoil of pipe may rotate around lifting head 918, which may also causerollers 902 to begin rotating in place. Bed of rollers 902 may thusprovide rotational movement that translates to a loaded coil of pipe andassists in deploying, i.e., unspooling, the coil of pipe. As discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-6, lifting head 918 may adjust to supporta coil of pipe 102 from its inner diameter. Lifting head 918 may beconfigured to adjust to suitably fit the inner diameter of a variety ofcoils of pipe. Further, lifting head 918 may be adapted to engage withtrack 934 to be positioned anywhere along track 934. As shown in FIG.13, trailer bed 920 may be disposed in a horizontal orientation and maybe pivotally coupled to trailer base 916. FIG. 14 shows that, inaccordance with one or more embodiments, one or more actuators (e.g.922) may be actuated to extend trailer bed 920 to a verticalorientation. Actuator 922 may be an exemplary actuator in accordancewith the embodiments discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-6. In otherwords, actuator 922 may be hydraulically powered to raise and lower (ortilt at any angle) trailer bed 920. In other embodiments, lifting head918 may be configured as a shaft, such as shaft 802, which may be usedto load, unload, and deploy coiled pipe disposed on a reel. Thus,trailer 912 is configured to have a trailer bed 920 that may be raisedand lowered to alter the orientation of a coil of pipe or reel whenloaded.

FIGS. 9-15 further illustrate containment arms 930 in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Containment arms 930may be extended (as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12-14) or compressed (asshown in FIGS. 11 and 15). Containment arms 930 may include individualarms (e.g. two individual arms as shown in FIGS. 9-15) which may beadjusted to move towards or away from central reference point 934. Inone or more embodiments, containment arms 930 may be affixed to uprightsupport members 940 that are affixed to a surface of trailer bed 920.Containment arms 930 may be adapted to pivot outwardly from supportmembers 940 when extended and may also be adapted to pivot inwardlytowards support members 940 when retracted (i.e. compressed).Containment arms 930 may further include stabilizers 942 disposed on atop edge of containment arms 930.

Containment arms 930 may function as structural supports that furthercontain a coil of pipe or reel disposed on trailer bed 920. Containmentarms 930 may provide greater control of one or more layers of a coil ofpipe, particularly during deployment of a coil of pipe or reel. Further,in one or more embodiments, stabilizers 942 may provide tension againstan outer surface of a coil of pipe or reel that is being deployed.Further, containment arms 930 may assist during re-packaging/respoolingof pipe into shipment quality coils. It is noted that containment armssuch as containment arms 930 may be included in any of the embodimentsdescribed in the present disclosure for trailer bed 120 or any othertrailer bed, e.g., 1620 in FIGS. 16-19 and 2020 in FIG. 20.

In one or more embodiments, a slide table, e.g. slide table 944 may beincluded with trailer bed 920 (as shown in FIGS. 9-15). In one or moreembodiments, slide table 944 may include two sections disposed on eitherside of track 934. Each section of slide table 944 may include a numberof rollers 902. In one or more embodiments, the number of rollers 902may be affixed to an upper surface of each section of slide table 944.In one or more embodiments, slide table 944 may be configured toslidably engage with one or more support members 946 (as shown in FIG. II) in order to slide away from the longitudinal axis that track 934 isdisposed on. Slide table 944 may be manually pulled (or pushed whenretracted) into position by an operator of trailer bed 920. In otherembodiments, slide table 944 may be hydraulically controlled. In otherembodiments, slide table 944 may be automatically positioned usingmechanical/electrical systems known to those in the art.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 15 illustrate slide table 944 in an extended position.Further, FIGS. 11, 12, and 15 show that containment arms 930 may also beengaged in either a compressed or extended position when slide table 944is in its extended position. Slide table 944 may provide a support for acoil of pipe (e.g. 102) or reel (e.g. 702) to bear against. The set ofrollers 902 included on the upper surface of each section of slide table944 may allow for the coiled pipe to rotate during deployment. Extendingslide table 944 may allow for trailer bed 920 to accommodate coils ofpipes or reels of larger sizes as well as provide a wider surface areaagainst which the coil of pipe may rest against during deployment. Inaccordance with one or more embodiments, rollers 902 may be arrangedboth above and below the location of slide table 944. In otherembodiments, rollers 902 may only be included on each section of slidetable 944.

Turning to FIGS. 16-19, turntable 1602 may be disposed on a trailer bed1620 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one ormore embodiments, turntable 1602 may include a rotatable platform onwhich a coil of pipe (e.g., coil of pipe 102 or reel 702 of pipe) may bepositioned using any one of the positioning methods as described in thepresent disclosure. A lifting head 1618 is mounted to turntable 1602. Asshown in FIGS. 16-19, lifting head 1618 includes an arm assembly (e.g.arms 1606, 1608, 1628, and 1630) that protrudes outwardly from theturntable 1602. Turntable 1602 may advantageously provide additionalsupport for a coil of pipe after being loaded onto lifting head 1618.Additionally, turntable 1602 may provide rotational movement thatassists when deploying, i.e. unspooling, a mounted coil of pipe.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate trailer bed 1620 deployed in a horizontalorientation. FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrated trailer bed 1620 deployed in avertical orientation and generally perpendicularly oriented to trailerbase 1616. Similar to the discussion presented above regarding actuator122, actuator 1622 may be configured to extend when trailer bed 1620 isin a vertical orientation and may be configured to retract so as toorient trailer bed 1620 in a horizontal orientation. Loading andunloading a coil of pipe or reel onto lifting head 1618 may beaccomplished in accordance with any one of the embodiments discussedabove with respect to lifting head 1618.

In one or more embodiments, turntable 1602 may include one or moresections. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, each section of turntable 1602may include a track 1626 disposed along a longitudinal axis of turntable1602 along which one or more arms of lifting head 1618 may move toincrease or decrease a distance between arms 1606 and 1608. Accordingly,arms 1606 and 1608 are disposed on opposite sides of central shaft 1610,and arms 1606 and 1608 may be configured to be moved along track 1626 oneach section of turntable 1002. Thus, lifting head 1618 may be adjustedto fit an inner diameter of various sized coils of pipe 102 (or reels).In addition, in one or more embodiments, arms 1628 and 1630 disposed ona transverse axis of turntable 1602 (located opposite sides of centralshaft 1610) may also be configured to expand or retract as needed toadjust to the inner diameter of a coil of pipe 102.

Further, trailer bed 1620 may include a rotatable platform 1624 uponwhich each section of turntable 1602 may be disposed (as shown in FIGS.17 and 19). Rotatable platform 1624 may enable turntable 1602 to rotateduring deployment of a coil of pipe disposed upon turntable 1602. Thus,as shown in FIG. 19, when trailer bed 1620 is disposed in a verticalorientation, an unsecured end of a pipe on a coil of pipe (e.g. 102) maybe pulled away from trailer 1612 so that the pipe disposed in a coil maybe unwound and laid out for further use. In one or more embodiments,coil of pipe 102 may be deployed while trailer bed 1612 is in ahorizontal orientation (as shown in FIG. 16).

Trailer 1612 may be operated as trailer 112 according to one or moreembodiments discussed above. It is also understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that trailer 1612 may have different configurationsthan those shown in FIGS. 16-19. For example, the size of trailer 1612and size of turntable 1604 may be configured as needed. Further,containment arms similar to containment arms 930 may be disposed on asurface of trailer bed 1620 in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Turning to FIG. 20, FIG. 20 shows an embodiment that includes aretention component that provides tension to assist in keeping a coil ofpipe in place and remain in the respective layers of coil of pipe (e.g.,similar to stabilizers 942). As shown, trailer 2012 includes a trailerbed 2020 mounted to a trailer base 2016, a lifting head movably mountedto and protruding outwardly from the trailer bed 2020 (such that thelifting head 2018 may move along a track with respect to the trailer bedwhile also being retained to the trailer bed), and a retention component2002 mounted to the trailer bed 2020. In other embodiments, a retentioncomponent may be mounted to a trailer base 2016. Retention component2002 may act as an arm or support that may be positioned to one side ofcoil of pipe 102 as coil of pipe 102 is being deployed from the trailer2012. Oftentimes, as pipe is unwound from a coil, being deployed, thelayers of pipe may begin to unravel and the pipe does not unspool in auniform or steady manner. Having a retention component, such as 2002,may allow for a force to be imparted to one side (along an outerdiameter) of the coil of pipe 102 and prevent the coil of pipe 102 fromunraveling too quickly, so that the overall structure of the coil ofpipe 102 remains intact until each layer of pipe that make up the coilof pipe 102 has been pulled during deployment. It is noted that pipe maybe deployed at many different sites which may not have on hand thenecessary devices and additional equipment to easily respool or rewindpipe into a coil (e.g. at various oil and gas drilling sites). As such,retention member 2002 may be useful in holding coil of pipe 102 secureagainst trailer bed 2020.

An energizing mechanism 2004 is configured to apply a force to theretention member 2002, which in turn, may provide a force pushingagainst an outer diameter of a loaded coil of pipe 102. The energizingmechanism 2004 may be a hydraulic arm energized by pressurized hydraulicfluid, which may be contained within tank 2006. According to embodimentsof the present disclosure, other energizing mechanisms may be used toenergize energizing mechanism 2004 to apply a force to an outer diameterof a loaded coil of pipe, including without limitation, one or moresprings, pneumatic energizing sources, or other mechanical orelectrically energizing sources.

In one or more embodiments, the retention component 2002, energizingmechanism 2004 and/or tank 2006 may be detachably or permanently mountedon trailer bed 2020. For example, in one or more embodiments, retentioncomponent 2002, energizing mechanism 2004 and/or tank 2006 may bedetachable from trailer bed 2020 and may be used only during deployment.In other embodiments, a retention component assembly (e.g., retentioncomponent 2002, energizing mechanism 2004 and/or tank 2006) may bepermanently mounted to trailer bed 2020. Further, retention component2002 and energizing mechanism 2004 may be configured to be stored in aretracted position (when not in use) on trailer 2012.

Pipe may be deployed from a coil of pipe or reel of pipe loaded onto atrailer according to embodiments of the present disclosure. A coil ofpipe (or reel of pipe) loaded onto a lifting head of a trailer may bedeployed while the lifting head is in a raised orientation (e.g., whenone or more actuators is in an actuated state to raise the lifting headalone or to raise a trailer bed having a lifting head attached in avertical orientation) or may be deployed while the lifting head is in alowered orientation (e.g., when a lifting head is disposed along atrailer bed in a horizontal orientation). Pipe may be deployed from acoil of pipe (or reel of pipe) by unwinding the pipe from the coil ofpipe (or reel of pipe) while the coil of pipe (or reel of pipe) isloaded on the lifting head.

According to some embodiments, deploying pipe from a coil of pipe (orreel of pipe) may include pulling an end of the pipe from the coil ofpipe to unwind the coil of pipe. The trailer on which the coil of pipeis loaded may remain stationary while the end of the pipe is pulled. Thecoil of pipe may rotate about the lifting head on which it is loaded asthe pipe is pulled from the coil. In some embodiments, a lifting head onwhich a coil of pipe is loaded may rotate the coil during unwinding thepipe from the coil. In some embodiments, deploying pipe from a coil ofpipe (or reel of pipe) may include moving the trailer on which the coilof pipe is loaded away from an end of the pipe, whereby the coil of pipemay rotate during deploying to unwind the coil of pipe as the trailermoves away from the end of the pipe. The coil may rotate about thelifting head as the trailer moves away, or the lifting head may rotatethe coil as the trailer moves away.

According to some embodiments, pipe may be deployed from a coil of pipeloaded onto a lifting head of a trailer by unwinding the pipe from thecoil of pipe. A retention component may be engaged with an outerdiameter of the coil of pipe during deploying, wherein an energizingmechanism applies a force to the retention component to engage theretention component with the outer diameter of the coil of pipe duringdeploying. When the retention component is engaged with and applying aforce to the outer diameter of the coil of pipe, the retention componentmay support the outer diameter of the remaining coil (pipe that has notyet been unwound), thereby retaining or supporting the shape of the coilduring deployment.

Further, in some embodiments, tension may be provided to a coil of pipeduring deployment of pipe from the coil to control a speed of theunwinding. Tension mechanisms may include, for example, friction padsthat may contact and create friction against the coil of pipe. Frictionpads may be provided on, for example, containment arms, retentionmechanisms, and/or the trailer bed (e.g., on a bed having a set ofrollers disposed thereon). Friction pads may be selectively maneuveredor adjusted to provide a desired amount of friction to the coil as itrotates to unwind the pipe. Tension may be provided to a coil of pipeduring deployment of the pipe, for example, to reduce the speed of thepipe being deployed and/or to stop deployment.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one or morepulling devices may be attached to one end of pipe to provide additionalsupport to pull pipe any distance away from a trailer according toembodiments of the present disclosure in order to unwind the layers ofpipe provided on coil of pipe. Further, in one or more embodiments, pipefrom a coil of pipe may be attached to one or more tools known in theart to position the pipe downhole in a well. In addition, pipe from acoil of pipe may be pulled and laid in a horizontal manner on the groundfor further use.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, pipe may be spooledeither into a coil of pipe or into a reel of pipe using trailersaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, in someembodiments, a trailer may be provided having a trailer base, a trailerbed mounted to the trailer base, a lifting head protruding in anoutwardly direction from the trailer bed and the trailer base when thelifting head is in a first orientation, wherein a position of thelifting head is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the trailer bed,and at least one actuator coupled to the trailer base for moving thelifting head to a second orientation. An end of pipe may be secureddirectly or indirectly to the lifting head of the trailer. The liftinghead may then be rotated with the end of the pipe secured thereto towind the pipe around the lifting head, thereby spooling the pipe into acoil (or around a reel in embodiments where a reel is disposed aroundthe lifting head and the pipe is wound around the reel as the liftinghead is rotated).

A motor may be disposed on the trailer in a position to rotate thelifting head, for example, at a base of the lifting head or on thetrailer bed proximate to the lifting head. In some embodiments, a chaindriven mechanism may be used to spool (or respool) pipe. For example, ahydraulic gear box with chain between the gears may be used to chaindrive rotation of a lifting head, where the gears may rotate in a firstdirection to move the lifting head in a first rotational direction(e.g., to unwind pipe from a coil) and the gears may back rotate in asecond opposite direction to move the lifting head in an oppositerotational direction (e.g., to wind pipe into a coil). In someembodiments, a motor may be used to rotate a platform on which a liftinghead is disposed in a first rotational direction to deploy pipe from acoil of pipe and/or to rotate the platform on which the lifting head isdisposed in an opposite rotational direction to spool or respool pipeinto a coil.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a trailer 2112 according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure having a motor 2150 disposed thereon, which maybe used for spooling or respooling a pipe around the trailer liftinghead. In the embodiment shown, the motor 2150 may be disposed betweenthe trailer bed 2120 and a turntable 2130 supporting the trailer liftinghead. The motor 2150 may rotate the turntable 2130 in either a clockwiseor counterclockwise direction to spool or deploy pipe from around thelifting head protruding from the turntable 2130.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show examples of motors that may be used with trailersaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 22,a motor 2200 may be mounted to a platform or support structure 2210 thatmay be attached to and movable with respect to a trailer bed. Forexample, the support structure 2210 may be mounted to a track on atrailer bed, where the support structure may move along the track. Alifting head, such as described herein, may protrude from the supportstructure 2210 and be rotated by the motor 2200. As shown, the motor2200 may drive a gear box 2220 using a chain 2230, where the gear box2220 may rotate an attached lifting head. In some embodiments, motor2200 may be a hydraulic motor to chain drive the rotation of a liftinghead via the gear box 2220.

As shown in FIG. 22, a motor 2300 may be mounted to a platform orsupport structure 2310 that may be attached to and movable with respectto a trailer bed. A lifting head, such as described herein, may protrudefrom the support structure 2310 and be rotated by the motor 2300. Asshown, the motor 2300 may drive a gear box 2320 directly, where the gearbox 2320 may rotate an attached lifting head. In some embodiments, motor2300 may be a hydraulic motor directly driving the rotation of a liftinghead via the gear box 2320.

Respooling of the deployed pipe may be achieved using any of theembodiments discussed in the present disclosure. In other words, thedeployed pipe may be rewound into a coil of pipe 102 around eitherlifting head 118 or shaft 802. Respooling, i.e. rewinding, deployed pipeinto a coil may provide a more manageable way to maneuver and manipulatethe coiled pipe for various uses and purposes. In one or moreembodiments, the pipe that is to be respooled may be rewound into a coil102 having one or more layers. Further, the pipe that is to be respooledmay be rewound into a coil as disposed upon reel 702.

Numerous benefits and advantages may be provided as a result of the oneor more embodiments described in the present disclosure. A trailer inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may beself-loading, which means that the coil of pipe or reel of pipe(depending on what is provided) may be loaded to and positioned alongthe trailer with minimal additional support equipment and/or humanlabor. As described herein, a coil of pipe or reel of pipe may bepositioned onto a protruding portion of a lifting head (e.g arm assemblyor shaft), which may be coupled to a trailer bed that is configured tobe automatically raised and lowered from a fully vertical to ahorizontal orientation and vice versa. As such, a trailer according toembodiments described herein may be described as self-loading.

In addition, the trailer bed, as described in one or more embodimentsherein, may be capable of automatically being raised or lowered tochange the orientation of a coil of pipe. Such a trailer may eliminatethe need to engage support equipment and supplies, such as withoutlimitation, additional pallets, skids, baskets, and other externalsupport features needed to load the coiled pipe in the horizontal, i.e.,eye to the sky, orientation.

In addition, a trailer, as described herein, may be able to handle alarger weight capacity compared to existing trailers used to transportcoiled pipe due to the additional support provided by an adjustablelifting head mounted to a trailer bed, and also because the trailer bedmay be lowered back to a horizontal orientation during transportation ofsuch a trailer, which allows for transportation of coils or reels ofpipe having heavier weights and larger dimensions.

Further, a trailer as described in the present disclosure may be able tounload full or partial coil directly to the ground using arepositionable lifting head along a track as described above.Alternatively, a coil of pipe may be lowered onto any other type oftrailer or other vehicle. Numerous other benefits and advantages areprovided by a trailer in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure as will be understood by those of ordinary skill inthe art.

While the present disclosure has been described with respect to alimited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefitof this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may bedevised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure asdescribed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should belimited only by the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manipulating a coil of pipe,comprising: providing a trailer, comprising: a trailer bed mounted to atrailer base; and a lifting head disposed on the trailer bed, thelifting head comprising one or more arms protruding in an outwardlydirection from the trailer bed; positioning the coil of pipe on thelifting head, wherein the coil of pipe and the trailer bed are in avertical orientation, positioning comprising: adjusting a position ofthe lifting head along the trailer bed to align the one or more arms ofthe lifting head with an interior channel extending through the coil ofpipe; and inserting the one or more arms of the lifting head through theinterior channel of the coil of pipe; lowering the trailer bed to ahorizontal orientation while the coil of pipe is positioned on thelifting head.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, transportingthe coil of pipe to a location while the trailer bed is loaded with thecoil of pipe in the horizontal orientation.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein positioning the coil of pipe on the lifting head furthercomprises adjusting one or more arms of the lifting head to fit withinan inner diameter of the interior channel of the coil of pipe.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the position of thelifting head while the coil of pipe is positioned on the lifting head tomove the lifting head to a central reference point along a length of thetrailer bed.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the trailer bed comprisesa set of rollers positioned at a surface of the trailer bed andextending along the trailer bed in a radial direction from the centralreference point to one or more edges of the trailer bed, wherein thecoil of pipe is rotatable along the set of rollers when the coil of pipeis positioned on the lifting head and when the lifting head is moved tothe central reference point.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising, hydraulically raising and lowering the trailer bed in thevertical orientation and the horizontal orientation, respectively, withrespect to the trailer base to load and unload the coil of pipe.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising, unloading the coil of pipe,wherein unloading the coil of pipe comprises: raising the trailer bedfrom the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation; adjustingthe position of the lifting head along the trailer bed for unloading thecoil of pipe; and disengaging the one or more arms of the lifting headfrom the interior channel of the coil of pipe.